Category Archives: U.S. Los Angeles, CA

Family, friends, and fun

Happy Hermosa Beach, CA

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I needed a boat break in the midst of all the boat work.  So, I headed to Hermosa Beach, California to visit my family during the Christmas break.  It was a very short trip but well worth the miles!

Both of my nephews were home for the holidays so we had lots of family time. We enjoyed many walks along the coast, strand, green belt, and beach.  

When the sun is out it is not just pretty but gorgeous!

We took another walk along the coast near the Point Vicente Lighthouse which is reported to be haunted by a lone female spirit.

We passed by an information center that told us about the gray whale migration and gave us stamps.  And a beautiful peacock was roaming the streets on our way home.

My sister’s dog Luke is part shepherd and husky and requires several walks a day. So, we visited lots of fun little parks.

Cameron’s 22nd Bday

Cameron turned 22 on 29 December!  We celebrated him all day and took him to play Top Golf in the evening.  Can’t say that I was any good at it, but it sure was fun!

My trip was super short so I was only able to see one friend…Deborah.  We went to a new restaurant called Tiki Kai which was so cute!  It had marvelous decor and atmosphere.  The food was excellent but ridiculously expensive for small portions of food.

Kimberly’s Bday

My sister’s birthday was on New Year’s Day!  We celebrated her all day long too. We started out by watching the Rose Parade which was rained upon (only 10th time in 150 years). 

Since it was raining, we decided to go see Song Sung Blue (movie) but it was such a sad movie.  It had great acting, a good story line, fabulous music, and overall aa great movie — but super sad.  Then off to dinner at Tin Roof Bistro. 

Featured Image: Cole, Kimberly, Troy, me, Cameron

I go through moments where I really miss land life and my family.  These moments are coming more frequently.  Unfortunately, we are sailing further and further away making these trips really difficult.  But I will keep flying back to stay grounded and fill my cup up! 

Our blog posts run 4-6 weeks behind actual live events. I was in Hermosa Beach the last week of December 2025.

Don’t miss all the quirky things to do in Whangarei – check out our last blog post.

Stateside Merrymaking: LA and SFO

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It is always a whirlwind when I come stateside.  I try to see my family and friends in a short amount of time.  It is always a lot to squeeze in.

My stateside visit started in Los Angeles with my sister Kimberly.  We really enjoyed some beautiful walks including this one in Palos Verdes.  We had a clear, beautiful day and then stopped at the Yellow Vase for some hot drinks.

Celebrating the end of the week with Kimberly and her husband Troy at Rockefeller.

My beautiful friend Kathryn at Descanso Gardens.  There was one cherry blossom tree in bloom, lots of beautiful trails, and several ducks frolicking in the river and small falls.  Kathryn and I met while we both worked at Advocate, MD 16+ years ago.

We celebrated Deborah’s birthday at Palmilla Restaurant on the Hermosa Beach Pier.  I met Deborah in Austin, TX around 25 years ago.

San Francisco

I took a whirl wind trip to San Carlos for a day to visit one of my sweetest friends.  I met and lived Jeannie back in the very the late 80’s in Hermosa Beach.  It was a super quick, but truly amazing visit.  Her husband Srinivas and son Sanjay were home to make it a truly wonderful celebration.  Jeannie and I met in the early 1990’s, lived together for many years and have remained close friends ever since!

Family Time

Kimberly organized a big brunch for the family.  My Aunt Donna drove over 2hours (one way) from San Diego (top left).  My Aunt Diana and Uncle Mark drove an hour (top right).  M funny and sweet uncle Matthew drove an hour.  And from my dad’s side of the family we had Kelly (his wife), my Uncle Joe and my two cousins Mark and Adam.

Kimberly made delicious chili and salad and I made homemade cheesecake bites.

Cameron’s Volleyball Team Sweeps the Tournament

Cameron, Kimberly’s youngest son, plays Men’s Club Volleyball at Colorado University.  They had a tournament in Irvine which is about an hour away. 

After two full days of playing, the ended up winning the entire tournament! 

Super proud of these young men, especially, Cameron!

Kalani (Cole’s girlfriend) came to visit us while we were in Irvine (what a sweetheart)!

We also took Cameron out for a celebratory dinner at a great Mexican restaurant.

Two friends from junior high reached out to us and came to meet us for breakfast! 

Kimberly took me to a great coffee place called Gitana and I fell in love with this artwork.   

We also completed an old school lunch box puzzle during my visit.

Kimberly’s fur babies. Felix the cat, Luke the new shepherd/husky puppy and Critter.  Views from their bedroom across to the Atlantic.

Only in Los Angeles will you see these crazy billboards.

Our blog posts run 6 weeks behind actual live events. I was stateside, LA and SFO during the first two weeks of March.

Come visit Descanso Gardens with me in our last blog post.

Descanso Gardens cherry blossom tree

The Sleeping Descanso Gardens

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I met my dearest friend Kathryn at Descanso Gardens in La Canada, California.  These botanical gardens are on 150-acres.  They feature a wide area, mostly forested, with artificial streams, ponds, lawns, and small sitting structures.

There were gravel, wood chip, and dirt paths twisting throughout the property.  Streams with small waterfalls, towering forest and blossoming floral gardens.

The colors were extremely vibrant and the smells are deliciously fragrant.

Poppies, daffodils, roses, stargazers, lilies and more.

There are lots of seating areas, bridges, and water features.  We came across a man wearing a captain’s hat and reading.

Daphne’s Wardrobe

The Descanso Gardens had a wonderful display called Daphne’s Wardrobe Metamorphosis into Nature.  It is beautiful combination of art and fashion. 

The displays consisted of clothing, sculptures, paintings, and photography.

Many beautiful sculptures and carvings were on display as well.

I really wanted to try this on!  Check out the pretty little shoes on display.

This was my favorite spot. 

The cherry blossom tree was in bloom and reflected beautifully in the water.

What a joy it was to spend some quality time with Kathryn! 

We really enjoyed the Descanso Gardens.  Although, I’d recommend going in the spring when the flowers are in full bloom.

Our blog posts run 6 weeks behind actual live events.  We were in Descano Gardens in early March 2025.

We had the best time as we danced through Disneyland, come play with us.